The building housed the island's legislature for 53 years until the new parliamentary complex was opened at Sri Jayawardenepura in 1983.

The Neo-Baroque-style building was built during the British colonial era to house the Legislative Council of Ceylon, and was the idea of Sir Henry McCallum.

[2] Following the adoption of a republican constitution in 1972, the National State Assembly convened in the building until 1977, when it was renamed the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Parliament then moved out to a purpose-built complex in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte in 1983; the building then became home to the Presidential Secretariat, housing the Office of the President.

The front garden of the Old Parliament Building is host to several bronze statues of eminent statesmen, that include: